Founding story
Haas was the first American constructor to submit an F1 entry after the failed US F1 project in 2010, and the first to compete since the unrelated Haas Lola outfit raced in 1985 and 1986. The earlier Haas Lola team was owned by Teddy Mayer and Carl Haas, who was not related to Gene Haas. Prior to establishing the F1 team, Guenther Steiner developed a business plan during the late-2000s economic recession, outlining the operational and financial model for a prospective Formula 1 team. Steiner secured support from established Formula 1 figures, including Niki Lauda and Jean Todt, which played a role in gaining approval for the team’s entry. The team established its headquarters in Kannapolis, North Carolina, alongside the NASCAR team Haas Factory Team, though the two operate as separate entities. A forward base was also established in Banbury, England, to facilitate car turnaround between European races, and a design office in Maranello, Italy, near Scuderia Ferrari’s headquarters.
Technology lineage
Haas initially approached Dallara to build their chassis, utilizing a power unit supplied by Ferrari. The team shook down its new car in December 2015, ahead of official pre-season testing. The team’s business model, relying heavily on established partners like Ferrari, drew both praise and criticism within the paddock. While applauded for offering a low-cost entry point for new teams, it also raised concerns among smaller teams who had invested in independent infrastructure. In 2018, concerns were raised about the team's close relationship with Ferrari, particularly regarding the resemblance of the VF-18 chassis to the previous year’s Ferrari. In 2024, Haas announced a technical partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR), integrating TGR’s design, technical, and manufacturing services in exchange for Haas’s expertise and commercial benefits. This partnership expanded in December 2025 with TGR becoming a title sponsor for the 2026 season, marking Toyota’s return to F1 after a 15-year absence.
Driver relationships
Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutiérrez were the team’s initial driver pairing in 2016. In 2017, Gutiérrez was replaced by Kevin Magnussen. Magnussen and Grosjean continued as teammates through 2019. For 2021, the team opted for an all-new lineup of Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. Magnussen returned to the team in 2022, partnering with Schumacher. Nico Hülkenberg joined Magnussen for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Following the 2024 season, Hülkenberg and Magnussen departed, with Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon joining the team for 2025. Bearman, a former reserve driver, marked the team’s first rookie driver since Mazepin and Schumacher in 2021, while Ocon arrived after five seasons with Alpine.
Historic peaks and collapses
Haas achieved immediate success, with Romain Grosjean finishing 6th in the team’s debut at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix, becoming the first American constructor to score points in its first F1 race. The team finished 8th in the Constructors' Championship in both 2016 and 2017. 2018 marked the team’s best season to date, finishing 5th in the Constructors' Championship, highlighted by a fastest lap for Magnussen at the Singapore Grand Prix. In 2022, Magnussen secured the team’s maiden pole position at the São Paulo Grand Prix in changing conditions, the first pole position for an American constructor in modern Formula One. 2019 saw a decline in performance, finishing 9th in the championship despite showing strong qualifying pace. 2020 was a challenging year, marked by Grosjean’s severe crash at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which he survived with burns, and a limited points haul. The team finished 9th again in 2020. The team deliberately halted development of the 2021 car to focus resources on the 2022 car, contributing to a season where they failed to score any points and finished 10th. A renewed focus on the 2022 car resulted in improved competitiveness, finishing 8th in the Constructors' Championship with points finishes for both Magnussen and Schumacher. After a difficult 2023 season, the team finished 10th. The 2024 season saw a resurgence, finishing 7th in the Constructors' Championship with 58 points, the most since 2018.
Current status
As of 2025, TGR Haas F1 Team continues to compete in Formula One, fielding the drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman. The team is operating under a technical and title sponsorship agreement with Toyota Gazoo Racing.
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